'Downton Abbey' Recap: Sister Act
Warning: This recap for Season 6, “Episode Eight” of Downton Abbey contains spoilers.
Since the first episode of Downton Abbey, Ladies Mary and Edith have been on a never-ending see-saw. When one’s up, the other’s down. (When Sybil was alive, she was off doing her own thing on the jungle gym.)
Last week, Mary put the brakes on her romance with Henry Talbot, while Edith got a marriage proposal from Bertie Pelham. But the see-saw has swung back to Mary’s favor, after she blows up Edith’s relationship with that secret festering in her icy heart. Then, to add insult to injury, Mary resolves things with Henry and they get hitched in a quickie wedding, while Edith gets dumped by Bertie.
Poor, poor Lady Edith. There’s one more episode left, the Christmas special (airing March 6) — will this Cinderella get her happy ending then? And will her wicked sister make up for what she did?
Here’s what went down this week at the Abbey:
Mary and Henry
Mary is moping about her breakup, and Tom pushes her to call Henry. “He’s the one for you, trust me, and give him a chance,” he says, but she shrugs him off. People “like us” (meaning herself and her titled family, not Tom and certainly not Henry) have to be careful about who they marry, especially if they’re inheriting a fortune.
Henry happens to drop by the Abbey after doing some “car things” in Durham (which, as Lord Grantham points out, probably are non-existent). His visit is highly annoying to Mary, and things just get worse when Henry asks her if money is the only reason she’s fighting their relationship. Now, she’s even angrier that he’s calling her a snob, and storms off.
When he leaves without saying goodbye the next morning, and seeing how happy Edith and Bertie look (more on that below), Mary decides to use the sharpest weapon in her arsenal. “I admire you, Bertie,” she says. “Not everyone would accept Edith’s past.” Oh snap!
Edith is forced to admit to the truth, and Tom yells at Mary for ruining not just her own life, but her sisters. “How many lives are you going to wreck just to smother your own misery?” he asks. “You’re a coward — like all bullies, you’re a coward.”
The Dowager Countess is called in to prevent any more wreckage from occurring thanks to Hurricane Mary, and finally Mary confesses what’s really holding her back: She cannot be a crash widow for a second time. But the Dowager says something very surprising: She believes in rules and traditions, but also, “I believe in love.”
So, Mary stops fighting this feeling. She goes to Matthew’s grave to ask for his heavenly blessing, then summons Henry back to Downton. He comes, with a marriage license (!), and they get hitched the following day. What is this, Las Vegas? “A new couple in a new world,” Robert says.
Remember when Downton Abbey premiered and Lady Mary looked down her nose at cousin Matthew for being a country lawyer? Well, this is certainly a new Mary now. Maybe she will even be nicer to Edith.
Nah.
Edith and Bertie
When Bertie talked about his “more arty than sporty” cousin Lord Hexham, we guessed one of two outcomes: 1) His Lordship would come back to England and hook up with Thomas, or 2) Bertie would inherit his cousin’s title and Edith would be a marchioness.
Well, option 2 sort of happened. Lord Hexham dies in Tangiers, and Bertie is his heir! “Golly gumdrops!” a gleeful Robert declares. But Edith is not quite so thrilled — she still hasn’t accepted his proposal or told him about Marigold.
Bertie comes to Downton before flying to Tangiers, and presses her for an answer. She seems to be trying to work up the nerve to tell him the truth, but then he talks about being a king of the county and always on parade and his very stern mother. When Edith tells him she loves him, he takes that as a yes, and tells the news to the family the next day at breakfast. That’s when Mary goes nuclear on Edith.
Bertie asks why Edith didn’t tell him about Marigold at the start, and she admits that she thought it would ruin everything. He can’t marry someone who doesn’t trust him and who he can’t trust. Her life was about to be “perfectly wonderful,” and now it’s all slipping away. After they wish each other luck, Bertie leaves. A tearful Edith packs up to leave for London, but not before she and Mary have the “row we all knew was coming.” Edith calls her a “nasty, jealous, scheming bitch.”
“You’re a bitch, and not content with ruining your own life, you’re determined to ruin mine!”
But surprise, surprise, when Mary gets married, Edith shows up in time to attend the wedding. Mary apologizes and Edith explains that she came because they’re still sisters. And someday, only they will remember Sybil, their mother and father, their grandmother, Matthew, and Michael Gregson. “Our shared memories will mean more than our mutual dislike.”
Poor Edith. At least she still has little Marigold.
Miss Baxter and Mr. Molesley
Mr. Molesley begins his stint as a teacher (part-time as he still works at the Abbey), and he’s pretty nervous, especially after his first class doesn’t go well. The students are bored, and he might be expecting too much out of them. But after a pep talk by Miss Baxter, he goes back and reveals that he’s been in service for most of his life. The students have parents who are servants, too, and they’re awed at the idea that education can give them a leg up on life. Mr. Molesley — oh captain, my captain!
Isobel and Lord Merton
Lord Merton clearly hopes that Isobel will change her mind about marrying him now that the oh-so-friendly Miss Cruikshank is in the picture. But Isobel has tea with the cool little miss, and informs her that she won’t wed Lord Merton until Larry Grey himself apologizes to her. As the Dowager points out, “The ball is in Larry’s court; only he can play it.”
Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes
He’s in full Butler of Downton Abbey mode this week, disapproving of Mrs. Patmore’s “scandal” and the Granthams helping her out. But he doesn’t have to worry that his wife has “gone off” him. “You’re my curmudgeon,” she says with a kiss on the cheek.
Anna and Mr. Bates
She’s still pregnant, there is a God.
As for the singletons:
Mrs. Patmore: The comedic storyline this episode revolves around her guest house. Turns out that notebook-wielding guy last week was not Yelp’s first employee, but a detective. Mrs. Patmore’s first guests were having a torrid affair, and now she’s known for owning a “house of ill repute.” Pretty much everyone has a really good laugh about this, but the scandal has deflated her business. So, Lord and Lady Grantham, and Lady Rosamund decide to her out by having tea there and getting photographed by the local paper.
Tom: As he remarks to Henry, he’s been best man at both of Mary’s weddings. Always the best man, never to be the groom again?
Daisy: She passes her exams with flying colors, and tells everyone how awesome Mr. Molesley did on his second day of teaching.
Spratt: Well, it turns out the Dowager’s butler is Edith’s advice columnist, “Miss Cassandra Jones.” Bananas!
Poor Thomas moment: Sigh. Poor Thomas episode, more like. Or Poor Thomas’s whole life. Look, has he been mean, nasty, scheming, and downright evil in the past? Yes. He’s also a gay man in a world a long way away from accepting him. He’s lonely and he’s getting pushed out of the one place he’s been able to call home. No wonder he slits his wrists. At least Miss Baxter and Andy manage to find him in time. So, maybe he does have some friends after all.
Dowager Countess quip of the week: “A good butler should not need to be told.” — Violet, indignant that Spratt did not anticipate her surprise arrival.
Downton Abbey airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on Masterpiece on PBS.
